Packer



E. V. 'CRUWELLl PACKER.

APPLlcATIoN FILED 00T. 22, 1919.

Patented Nov. 9, 1920.

`llllllllll d im srnrss EBD. V. GROWELL, OF TULSA, OKLAHOMA.

recaen,

mareas.

Specication of Letters Yatent.

Patented Nov. 9, 1920,

Application filed October 22 1919. Serial No. 332,356.

My invention is an improvement in pack` ers, and has for its object to provide adevice of the character speciied, especially adapted for providing a watertight seal in a well, for the purpose of cutting off a ilowot water, wherein the arrangement is such that the engagement of the. packer with the bottom of the well will automatically expand the packer to cause it to seal the well, and wherein the withdrawing or the packer from the well will contract the packer.

A further object of the invention is to provide a packer by means of which the outlet of the well may be restricted in order to economize in casing or to build up pressure, as, for instance, in a gas well, sometimes to economize in casing, and again to build up a pressure, if a gas well, by conlining the out-let to a smaller diameter pipe.

ln the drawings:

Figure l is a view showing the packer in use,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail of the upper portion of the packer,

Fig. 3 .'s a'vlew of the lower portion,

Fig. 4C is an enlarged perspective detail of the connection of the upper and lower portions.

In the present embodiment of the invention a base or anchor 1 is provided, having connected with its lower end, by means oi a collar 2, a swaged nipple 3, lower end of this nipple is engaged with the upper end is engaged at its lower end with the upper end of a gas cage 5, and a section of pipe 5 of suitable length is connected with the lower end of the cage.

The packer proper comprises a section 'l of piping oi" suitable length, having near its upper end a flange or collar 8 secured thereto, and at its lower end the piping T is provided with a similar dange or collar 9, which is slidable on the pipe. Spiral blades The reduced of a sleeve or collar 4;, which- 10 are arranged. between the collars 8 and t), two blades being provided in the present instance, and each blade has its ends secured to the collars by bolts and nuts 11. In the present instance the spiral blades are composed of sections, which are riveted together at their meeting ends as indicated at 12, and a sleeve 13 of tin or like light material is arranged on the collar 9, the said sleeve extending above the collar a short distance, covering approximately a half spiral of the blades.

The sleeve which may be a loosely wrapped strip, may be held at its upper end by a wire binder, and the collar 9 is rigidly secured to a threaded coupling 14, which engages the threaded upper end ot the anchor 1. ln the present instance this connection is by means of bolts and nuts 15. Cotter pins indicated at 16 are provided for preventing the pipe 7 from slipping down into the base or anchor, it being understood that the lower end 'of the pipe 7 extends into the anchor, through the coupling 14, and the said lower end is provided with an enlargement in the form of coupling 17 for engaging the coupling 15 when the pipe 7 is drawn upward, to withdraw the packer. rlhese Cotter pins are passed through openings in the pipe 7, and are sheared ofi4 when the weight of the packer comes on to the pins, after the anchor has engaged the bottom of the well. ll`he gas cage has openings as shown for permitting the passage of gas from the well to the packer. Piping 18 is connected with the upper end of the' pipe 7, by means of the coupling 19 to lower the packer into the well. l

lnuse suitable sealing material. as for instance hemp, tiber or any soft pliable material is filled in between the spirals, and the spirals are collapsed in .a manner to be presently described. T his packing is compressed and forced outward, the spiral serving as a guide for delivering the packing outward, to thoroughly seal the well. The tin sleeve at the bottom of the packer is to prevent the gas from getting in beneath the sealing Ine-` diurn when the packer is being lowered into the well. lihen the packer is properly pcsitioned, the wire binder ot the sleeve is broken by. the expansion et the blades.

lin operation with the packer properly assembled it is lowered into the well. When the anchor engages the bottom and the weight of the packer comes on to the cotter pins, they are sheared and the pipe 7 moves downwardly into the anchor 1. rllhe spirals are collapsed, moving closer together, and they are expanded radially outward. When the packer is in 'soft shale formation, the spirals have a tendency to cut into the wall, and into small irregularities .in the wall, and the packer will expand uniformly throughout the full length of the packing material. When the packer is withdrawn, the blades are contracted and the coupling. 17 draws up the anchor with the packer.

llt will be understood that a particular purpose of the device is to restrict the outlet of the well, that is, with the packer shown the outlet of the well might be restricted to the capacity of the pipe 7. The space between the said pipe 7 and the well wall is sealed and all or the tlow must be through the pipe 7. ylhus the outow from the well may be restricted to permit a smaller casing to be used or to build up a pressure in the casel of gas wells. The gas gage is merelya species of valve for placing the pipe 7 in communication with that portion ofthe well below the seal. As shown in Fig. 1 by the arrow heads the gas enters through the gage. which is, in effect, the rlhe pipe 18 is connected with the upper end of the pipe 7 and this pipe serves as a continuation of the. pipe 7 for permitting the contents of the well to move outwardly and also ior permitting the packing to be raised or lowered. .l't is the weightol3 the tube or casing connected with the pipe 7 that shears the pin 16 and expands the packer.

The spirals are formed from a series or Y plates riveted together in coils 'which are of much larger diameter when laid Hat, than when elongated along the pipe. W hen the packer is positioned in a well and made operative, vthe spirals collapse, the individual plates in their eilorts to return to their original diameter exert a powerful lateral pressure on the wall of the well. 'l`hus the packer takes a claw hitch hold onv the well. rlFhe spirals expand uniformly throughout their full length, keeping pace with the lateral expansion of the packing ina.- terial,serving as guides for delivering the force of the packing material outward, into the finest variations of the wall of the well.

packer for a six inch hole is made oit plates eight inches outside diameter when i at.

llhe sleeve 13 is to prevent the gas from getting in under the sealing medium when the packing is being lowered or positioned in the well. i

bottom of the packing. l/lhen the packer is inlet for the pipe 7.' i

The sleeve shuts oil' the gas at the LSZME@ secured to the heads at their ends, an anchor' connected with the bottom head and into which the core is slidable, a frangible means arranged between the core and the lower head for holding the core out of the anchor l and adapted to be sheared by the weight of the core and blades when the anchor engages the bottom of the well, said blades being adapted to carry a packing material between them, and a sleeve encircling the lower end of the blades and resting on the head adapted to be displaced by the expanding of the blades. v

2. A device of the character specified, comprising a core, a fixed head at one end of the core, a head at the other end through which the core is slidable, spiral blades arranged about the core between the heads and secured to the heads at their ends, an anchor connected with the bottom head and into which the core is slidable, a frangible means arranged between the core and. the lower head for holding the core out oi the anchor and adapted to be sheared by the weight of the core and blades when the anchor engages the bottom of the well, said core having enlargements within the anchor below the head for engaging the head when the packer is drawn upward.

3- A device of the character speciied, comprising a core, a xed head at one end oi the core, a head at the other end through which the core is slidable, spiral blades arranged about the core between the heads and secured to the heads at their ends, an anchor connected with the bottom head and into which the core is slidable, a frangible means arranged between they core and the lower head for holding the core out of the anchor and adapted to be sheared by theweight of the core and blades when the anchor'engages the bottom of the well, said anchor having openings at its top and the core being hollow for permitting the passage of gas.

d. A device of the character specified, comprising a core, a xed head at one end of the core, a head at the other end through which the core is slidable, spiral blades arranged about the core between theheads and secured to the heads at their ends, an anchor connected with the bottom head and into which the core is slidable, a iirangible means arranged between the core and the lower head for holding the core out oi." the llli 1,35%.,958 y l B anchor and adapted to be sheared by the Weight of the core and blades when the anchor engages the bottom of the Well.

5. A device of the character specied comprising an anchor and a core arranged to telescope with the anchor, spiral blades arranged between the anchor and the lcore and adapted to be expanded when the core is telescoped into the anchor, and means Jfor temporarily holding position and adapted to be broken when pressure is brought upon the core.

ERD., V. CROWELL.

the core in extended 10 

